Hair extension system and method

ABSTRACT

A hair extension system is provided that comprises a tube, which has a central tube opening therethrough. The tube formed of a malleable material, such as copper, capable of being flattened and opened reversibly. A strand of extension hair inserted through the tube opening and affixed to the tube by an attaching means, preferably a strong adhesive, on one side, leaving room to draw existing hair through the tube. The tube is capable of being opened at a later date to permit the tube to be repositioned on the stand of existing hair, closer to the scalp, and recompressed to bind the two strands therein. The tube may be manufactured in colors to match varying shades of existing hair. The system also provides crimping and opening tools for flattening and reversibly opening the hair extension tube.

CLAIM OF PROVISIONAL APPLICATION RIGHTS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/450,624, filed on Mar. 3, 2003.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to hair extension and in particularto a hair extension system and method with the extension hair alreadyinstalled on the extension connector for speed and ease of application.

[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art

[0005] Hair extension is a natural looking way to have longer hair ofany desired length in one installation session. Prior art systems andmethods often involve painstaking and time consuming ways of braidingsmall quantities of existing hair with small quantities of extensionhair, either shorn human hair or synthetic hair and then connecting thetwo together in a somewhat secure way to maintain the extension hair inplace and achieve a natural looking long head of hair.

[0006] Because the look is more natural looking and more secure byinterconnecting small strands of existing hair with extension hair, theprocess requires many small operations of interconnecting the smallstrands. Most of the prior art attempts at creating systems and methodsof hair extension require lengthy expensive sessions to carry out theextension treatment.

[0007] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,736, issued Jun. 18, 2002 toTownsend, shows self adhesive hair extensions and a method of attachingthen to the head of a wearer. The self adhesive hair extensions comprisea plurality of either natural or synthetic hair strands attached to abase support comprising a strip of woven material or hair attachmentweave or welt at one end. A fastener comprising a self adhesive tapeportion and removable backing is sewn or otherwise secured by stitchingto the hair extensions in order to prevent the adhesive tape from beingseparated or repositioned during use. The method of use compriseseparating a users hair along a part line into an upper portion and alower portion wherein the upper portion is temporarily swept up and awayfrom the part line. The removable backing is removed from the adhesivehair fastener exposing the removable self-adhesive tape, saidself-adhesive tape is applied to the scalp or back of head of user.

[0008] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D447,286, issued Aug. 28, 2001 to Diaz,claims the ornamental design for a hair extension.

[0009] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. D433,774, issued Nov. 14, 2000 to Diaz,also describes the ornamental design for a hair extension.

[0010] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,211, issued May 4, 1999 to Brown,discloses an artificial hair piece that includes an independentextension of synthetic human hair secured at one end to a stretchable,twistable, and foldable elastic loop or band. The opposite end of theextension can either be free or can be gathered and tied or otherwisebound. The elastic loop can be used to secure gathered actual hair of auser into, for example, a ponytail. The hair extension can then bewrapped around the elastic loop to hide it from view and give theimpression that the hair extension is securing the ponytail in place.The hair extension can be selected to match one or more characteristicof the user's own hair.

[0011] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,899,209, issued May 4, 1999 toMcDonald, indicates a hair extension that includes hair strands affixedto a ring assembly. The ring assembly comprises an inner ring and anouter ring. The inner ring is configured to nest within the outer ring,with distal ends of the hair strands impinged between the inner andouter rings. A plait of a user's hair is inserted through the ringassembly of the hair extension. In one embodiment, the hair extension isattached to the plait with a band, or by sewing the hair extension tothe plait. In another embodiment, the ring assembly is modified with afastening assembly for fastening the hair extension to the plait.

[0012] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,894,846, issued Apr. 20, 1999 to Gang,puts forth a device for lengthening a person's own hair using artificialand/or genuine hair and for the permanent fastening of artificial and/orgenuine hair. The invention is characterized in that a tube, which canbe shrunk when energy is applied, is disposed above a thickened portion,secured in position, in particular a knot in a strand of a person's ownhair and above an extension piece of artificial and/or genuine hair. Anenergy-application device, in particular in the form of heating irons,transfers thermal energy in a deliberate manner to the shrinkable tube.The method in which the device is used is characterized by the followingsteps; knotting a strand of the person's own hair, sliding onto the knotin the hair strand a fastening element which can shrink when energy isapplied, sliding an extension strand of artificial and/or genuine hairinto the tube; and shrinking the shrinkable fastening element by theapplication of energy.

[0013] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,145, issued Feb. 9, 1999 to Spann,concerns an improved hair extension and thickening process which reducesshedding, resists physical and chemical degradation, and which, further,provides for safely, easily, and cleanly removing the supplemental hairfrom the natural hair. A weft of natural or synthetic supplemental hairis suspended upon a mounting surface. A small bundle of supplementalhair is segregated from the weft. Liquid latex is applied thereto, andthe latex is twisted into it so that the supplemental hair is thoroughlycoated, intertwined, and bonded together at the junction so formed.Cyanoacrylate adhesive is applied to further bond the bundle ofsupplemental hair. The supplemental bundles are then permanentlyseparated from the weft. The supplemental bundle may later be bonded toa person's natural hair through the use of a hot melt acrylic adhesive.Release and separation of the supplemental bundle from the person'snatural hair is conveniently, safely, and cleanly obtained through theuse of acetone.

[0014] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,418, issued Sep. 29, 1998 toPillars, illustrates a color matched hair clip device with and withoutan unlocking key combination, and a method for adding and removingmultiple hair extensions or tracks to a person's head without resortingto sewing or gluing as practiced conventionally. The hair clip device ismade up of a comb element and a cover element which “Ziplocs”.TM., witha locking guard element in the first embodiment. The U-shaped lockingguard has a hooked sheath at each end. The cover element has two tracksnaps or hair extension holders under which the hair extensions areattached. The second embodiment dispenses with the locking guard andutilizes plastic snaps for both the hair extension holders, the combteeth and the cover element for securing the hair extensions. The methodof use comprises placing the comb element close to the scalp, engagingthe end teeth of the comb with the sheathed ends of the locking guard,wrapping the natural hair around the comb to be held initially by thesheathed locking guard's external hooks, and either interlocking thecover element with the locking guard or snapping the hair extensionholders and the cover element for securing the hair extensions. Aspecial key is provided for removal of the locking guard or the snaps ofthe hair clip device and the attached hair extensions. The key isdesigned to effectively perform the operation with a minimum of effortand without damaging the hair clip device.

[0015] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,752,530, issued May 19, 1998 toTraintinger, is for a method of attaching foreign hair to naturallygrown scalp hair. First, a strand of scalp hair is combined with astrand of foreign hair. A clamping sleeve is slipped onto the loop of aloop catcher. Then the combined strand is inserted into loop and it ispulled into and through the clamping sleeve with the loop catcher. Thecombined strand of scalp hair and foreign hair are then preliminarilyattached by pre-squeezing the sleeve. After the sleeve is properlyplaced in the vicinity of the scalp, the sleeve is finally pressed so asto clamp the foreign hair to the scalp hair. The sleeve, which ispreferably of the same color as the hair, may be removed by prying itopen with bent-nose pliers provided with the invention.

[0016] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,761, issued Jun. 16, 1992 toMeister, provides a method for the attachment of extensions or wefts ofhair to the naturally growing hair of a person. First, the location ofwhere the extension is to be attached to the person is determined. Then,the hair is parted along that location. The hair along the part isgathered together in small clumps. A crimpable anchor device is locatedonto each clump of hair. Each anchor device is positioned along therespective hair clump to a position near the scalp of the person. Theanchor devices are crimped so as to secure their positions. Then, theextension is sewn to the clumps of hair using needle and thread. Theneedle and thread pass through the respective clumps at locationsbetween the anchor devices and the scalp. The naturally growing hair isallowed to fall in place so as to cover the points of attachment.

[0017] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,107,867, issued Apr. 28, 1992 toBarrington, shows a reversible process for attaching permanentextensions to human hair in which strands of supplemental hair arejoined with a thermostable adhesive to form a plug of supplemental hair.A coating of thermosetting adhesive is applied over the thermostableadhesive and cured. Strands of the person's natural hair are threadedthrough a section of heat shrinkable tubing, the plug of supplementalhair is inserted into the heat shrinkable tubing, and heat is applied tothe heat shrinkable tubing so that the thermosetting adhesive liquifiesand joins the plug of supplemental hair and natural hair, and the heatshrinkable tubing shrinks in size to compress and seal the junction. Thepermanent extension can be removed by reapplication of heat to the heatshrinkable tubing.

[0018] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,387, issued Jun. 19, 1990 to Megna,describes a process for lengthening the hair of persons who have shorthair and for thickening the hair for those who have a relatively smallamount of hair. The process comprises the steps of aligning supplementalhair with the natural hair, adhering the supplemental hair to thenatural hair utilizing a colored thermoplastic glue, intertwining thewarm adhered natural and supplemental hair together to permit a bindingof the supplemental to the natural hair, and then styling the combinedhair. A technique for preparing the thermoplastic glue is alsodisclosed.

[0019] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 3,530,862 issued Sep. 29, 1970 to Hudson,provides a hair piece made by aligning hair to a rod-like member,trimming the hair ends, grouping the hair covered rods together andcoating the trimmed ends with an elastomeric binder to form a web-likebase.

[0020] Prior art U.S. Pat. No. 2,621,663, issued Dec. 16, 1952 toJenkins, discloses a method for permanently attaching commercial hair tolive hair in which the attachment point is rendered invisible.

[0021] What is needed is a system and method of quickly interconnectingeach small strand of existing hair with each small strand of extensionhair to speed up the process while still retaining the natural look andstrength of each connection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0022] An object of the present invention is to provide hair extensionconnecting tubes with extension hair already attached to the connectingtubes for a hair extension system and method of quickly interconnectingeach small strand of existing hair with each small strand of extensionhair to speed up the process while still retaining the natural look andstrength of each connection.

[0023] Another object of the present invention is to provide smallinexpensive hair extension connector tubes with the extension hairpreinstalled in half the tube, which makes the process of hair extensionmuch easier for the hair stylist and much more affordable to the clientdue to the cost and time saved by the salon, requiring that the existingstrand of hair merely be pulled through the tube adjacent to the strandof extension hair and the tube sealed to secure the two strands together

[0024] One more object of the present invention is to provide soft metaltubes that match the existing hair color which are fabricated from avery malleable metal, such as copper creates a highly effective andspeedy device and method for hair extension by simply crimping the tubeclosed tight in a flat configuration securing the existing strand andextension strand together in the tube

[0025] An additional object of the present invention is to provide softmetal tubes, which also enable easy loosening of the tubes by pryingthem apart. The stylist can then push the tubes closer to the scalp andrecrimp after existing hair growth has occurred to maintain the tubesclose to the scalp so that they are covered by a layer of hair and notvisible

[0026] In brief, a hair extension system comprises a series of shortmalleable tubes, each of which has a central tube opening therethrough.The tube formed of a malleable material, such as copper, is capable ofbeing flattened and opened reversibly. A strand of extension hair,either shorn human hair or synthetic hair, is inserted through the tubeopening and affixed to the tube by an attaching means, preferably strongglue, on one side, leaving room to draw existing hair through the tube.The extension hair strand may be affixed to the tube by a sewing meansin addition or as an alternative to an adhesive means. The tube iscapable of being opened at a later date to permit the tube to berepositioned on the stand of existing hair, closer to the scalp, andrecompressed to bind the two strands therein. The tube in easilyconcealed by the client's hair when it is positioned near the scalp. Thetube may be manufactured in colors to match shades of existing hair,making it even lower in visibility.

[0027] A second embodiment of the hair extension tube has a longitudinalsplit in the tube running parallel to the strand of extension hair andis capable of being folded in half into a compressed V shape after beingcompressed flat.

[0028] The system also provides crimping and opening tools forflattening and reversibly opening the hair extension tube.

[0029] An advantage of the present invention is that the extension hairis preinstalled in half of the tube saving time in the installationprocess.

[0030] Another advantage of the present invention is that it is a highlyeffective and speedy device to use.

[0031] An additional advantage of the present invention is that the softmetal tubes are easily opened and closed.

[0032] One more advantage of the present invention is that it is thedevice may be adjusted closer to the scalp as the client's hair growsout.

[0033] Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the tubesare positioned close to the scalp so that they are covered by a layer ofhair and not visible.

[0034] Still another advantage of the present invention is that thecolor of the tubes can be matched to the color of the client's hair.

[0035] A final advantage of the present invention is that it is muchmore affordable to the client due to the cost and time saved by thesalon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] These and other details of my invention will be described inconnection with the accompanying drawings, which are furnished only byway of illustration and not in limitation of the invention, and in whichdrawings:

[0037]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the hair extension tube of thepresent invention encircling the pre-installed extension hair, in anon-flattened state.

[0038]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the hair extension tube of thepresent invention encircling both real hair and the extension hair, in aflattened state.

[0039]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of thehair extension tube having a slot along the length of the tube,encircling both real hair and the extension hair, in a non-flattenedstate.

[0040]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of thehair extension tube of FIG. 3 in an intermediate flattened state.

[0041]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the alternate embodiment of thehair extension tube of FIG. 3 in a final compressed V-shape.

[0042]FIG. 6 is an elevational view of a pair of crimping pliers usedwith the alternate embodiment of the hair provide an alternate V-shapedcrimp.

[0043]FIG. 7 is an elevational view of opening tool pliers, which areused to open the flattened hair extension tube.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0044] In FIGS. 1 and 2, a hair extension system 20 comprises a shortmalleable tube 21 which has a central tube opening 29 therethrough. Thetube 21 is formed of a malleable material capable of being flattened andopened reversibly.

[0045] The hair extension system 20 also comprises a strand of extensionhair 22 pre-installed in the tube by inserting a strand of natural orsynthetic extension hair through the opening of the tube 21 andattaching it to the tube 21 by an attaching means, preferably adheringthe extension hair to the tube with a strong glue 27 or alternately oradditionally sewing with thread or strands 23 of the extension hairitself. The strand of extension hair 22 is attached on one side of thetube 21 adjacent to a first end of the strand of extension hair 22 sothe extension hair 22 is restricted to occupying approximately half ofthe opening of the tube 21. The remainder of the opening of the tube 21remains open so that a strand of existing hair 30 from a person may beinserted into the tube adjacent to the extension hair. The strand ofexisting hair 30 is drawn through the remaining open portion of theopening of the tube 21 adjacent to the extension hair 22 in the opening,as shown in FIG. 2. The tube 21 is capable of being reversiblycompressed to bind the two strands 22 and 30 of hair within theflattened tube 21, as shown in FIG. 2 and subsequently the tube 21 iscapable of being opened to permit the tube 21 to be repositioned on thestand of existing hair 30 after the existing hair has grown, andrecompressed to bind the two strands 22 and 30 therein.

[0046] In another embodiment of the hair extension tube 20A, shown inFIG. 3, the tube 21A has a longitudinal split in the tube 21A runningparallel to the strand of extension hair 22 and is capable of beingfolded in half into a compressed V shape, as shown in FIG. 5 after beingcompressed, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0047] The system 20 or 20A further comprises a compressing tool (notshown) that comprises a pair of opposing pivotable flat faces, such as apair of pliers capable of compressing the tube 21 or 21A after theexisting strand of hair 30 is drawn into the opening, as shown in FIGS.2 and 4 and further capable of compressing the tube 21A again, shown inFIG. 5, after the tube 21A is formed into a V shape.

[0048] The system 20A also includes a bending tool 40, shown in FIG. 6,that comprises a pair of opposing pivotable faces with a V-shapedprotrusion 41 on one of the pair of faces and a mating V-shaped recesson the other of the pair of faces. The bending tool 40 is capable offorming the compressed tube 21A, shown in FIG. 4, into a V shape.

[0049] The system 20 or 20A further includes an opening tool 50, shownin FIG. 7. The opening tool 50 comprises a pair of opposing facingpointed wedge elements 51 capable of being inserted into the opening 29of the tube 21 or 21A after the tube 21 or 21A is compressed and pryingapart the compressed tube 21 or 21A to reopen the tube 21 or 21A topermit sliding the tube 21 or 21A along the strand of existing hair 30.

[0050] In practice, the hair extension method comprises a first step offorming a tube 21 or 21A that has a central tube opening 29therethrough. The tube 21 or 21A is formed of a malleable material andis capable of being flattened, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, and openedreversibly.

[0051] The method comprises a second step of attaching a strand ofextension hair 22. The extension hair 22 is inserted through the openingof the tube 21 or 21A and attached to the tube 21 or 21A by an attachingmeans on one side of the tube 21 or 21A, adjacent to a first end of thestrand of extension hair 22. The extension hair 22 is thereby restrictedto occupying a first portion of the opening of the tube 21 or 21A and asecond portion of the opening remains open so the second portion of theopening is capable of receiving a strand of existing hair 30 from aperson. The strand of extension hair 22 would be preferably attached tothe tube 21 or 21A by a strong glue 27 and alternately or additionallyby a sewing means such as thread or strands of the extension hair 23.

[0052] The method further comprises a third step of drawing a strand ofexisting hair 30 through the second portion of the opening of the tube21 or 21A adjacent to the extension hair 22 in the opening. The tube 21or 21A is capable of being reversibly compressed to bind the two strandsof hair 22 and 30 within the flattened tube 21 or 21A, as shown in FIGS.2 and 4.

[0053] The method also comprises a fourth step of compressing the tube21 or 21A to bind the two strands of hair 22 and 30 within the flattenedtube 21 or 21A, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Subsequently, the tube 21 or21A is capable of being opened to permit the tube 21 or 21A to berepositioned on the stand of existing hair 30 and recompressed to bindthe two strands 22 and 30 therein. The compression is achieved by usinga tool (not shown) that comprises a pair of opposing pivotable flatfaces, such as a pair of pliers, to compress the tube 21 or 21A afterthe existing strand of existing hair 30 is drawn into the opening of thetube 21 or 21A.

[0054] In an alternate embodiment of the device 20A, shown in FIG. 3-5,the tube 21A has a longitudinal split 25 in the tube 21A runningparallel to the strand of extension hair 22. The fourth step comprisescrimping the tube 21A with the slit 25 at a central point in the tube21A after compressing the tube 21A, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0055] The embodiment of the device 20A also requires a fifth step ofbending the flattened tube 21A into a V shape. In the fifth step, theuser would employ a bending tool 40, shown in FIG. 6 to form thecompressed tube into the V shape. This bending tool 40 comprises a pairof opposing pivolable faces with a V-shaped protrusion on one of thepair of faces and a mating V-shaped recess on the other of the pair offaces.

[0056] The second version of the device 20A also comprises a sixth stepof compressing the V shape tube 21A into a flattened folded over tube21A, as shown in FIG. 5 by using a compression tool (not shown) thatcomprises a pair of opposing pivotable flat faces.

[0057] The method further comprises a seventh step of prying apart thecompressed tube 21 or 21A to reopen the tube 21 or 21A to permit slidingthe tube 21 or 21A along the strand of existing hair 30, by using anopening tool 50, shown in FIG. 7. The opening tool 50 comprises a pairof opposing facing pointed wedge elements 51 capable of being insertedinto the opening 29 after the tube 21 or 21A is compressed.

[0058] It is understood that the preceding description is given merelyby way of illustration and not in limitation of the invention and thatvarious modifications may be made thereto without departing from thespirit of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hair extension system comprising: a tube havinga central tube opening therethrough, the tube formed of a malleablematerial capable of being flattened and opened reversibly; a strand ofextension hair inserted through the tube opening and attached to thetube by an attaching means on one side of the tube adjacent to a firstend of the strand of extension hair so that the extension hair isrestricted to occupying a first portion of the opening and a secondportion of the opening remains open so that the second portion of theopening is capable of receiving a strand of existing hair from a person,the strand of existing hair being drawn through the second portion ofthe opening adjacent to the extension hair in the opening and the tubeis capable of being reversibly compressed to bind the two strands ofhair within the flattened tube and subsequently the tube is capable ofbeing opened to permit the tube to be repositioned on the stand ofexisting hair and recompressed to bind the two strands therein.
 2. Thesystem of claim 1 wherein the attaching means comprises an adhesiveattaching means for gluing the stand of extension hair onto the tube. 3.The system of claim 1 wherein the attaching means comprises a threadedattaching means for sewing the stand of extension hair onto the tube. 4.The system of claim 3 wherein the threaded attaching means comprisessewing at least one of the strands of extension hair onto the tube. 5.The system of claim 3 wherein the threaded attaching means comprisessewing an external threading means between the strand of extension hairand the tube.
 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube has alongitudinal split in the tube running parallel to the strand ofextension hair.
 7. The system of claim 1 wherein the tube is capable ofbeing folded in half into a compressed V shape after being compressed.8. The system of claim 7 further comprising a bending tool comprising apair of opposing pivotable faces with a V-shaped protrusion on one ofthe pair of faces and a mating V-shaped recess on the other of the pairof faces, the bending tool capable of forming the compressed tube into aV shape.
 9. The system of claim 8 further comprising a compressing toolcomprising a pair of opposing pivotable flat faces capable ofcompressing the tube after the existing strand of hair is drawn into theopening and further capable of compressing the tube again after the tubeis formed into a V shape.
 10. The system of claim 9 further comprisingan opening tool comprising a pair of opposing facing pointed wedgeelements capable of being inserted into the opening after the tube iscompressed and prying apart the compressed tube to reopen the tube topermit sliding the tube along the strand of existing hair.
 11. A hairextension method comprising: a first step of forming a tube having acentral tube opening therethrough, the tube formed of a malleablematerial capable of being flattened and opened reversibly; a second stepof attaching a strand of extension hair inserted through the tubeopening and attached to the tube by an attaching means on one side ofthe tube adjacent to a first end of the strand of extension hair so thatthe extension hair is restricted to occupying a first portion of theopening and a second portion of the opening remains open so that thesecond portion of the opening is capable of receiving a strand ofexisting hair from a person, a third step of drawing a strand ofexisting hair through the second portion of the opening adjacent to theextension hair in the opening and the tube is capable of beingreversibly compressed to bind the two strands of hair within theflattened tube; a fourth step of compressing the tube to bind the twostrands of hair within the flattened tube and subsequently the tube iscapable of being opened to permit the tube to be repositioned on thestand of existing hair and recompressed to bind the two strands therein.12. The method of claim 11 wherein the attaching means comprises anadhesive attaching means for gluing the stand of extension hair onto thetube and the second step comprises attaching the extension hair bygluing it to the tube.
 13. The method of claim 11 wherein the attachingmeans comprises a threaded attaching means for sewing the stand ofextension hair onto the tube and the second step comprises attaching theextension hair by sewing it to the tube.
 14. The method of claim 13wherein the second step comprises sewing at least one of the strands ofextension hair onto the tube.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein thesecond step comprises sewing an external threading means between thestrand of extension hair and the tube.
 16. The method of claim 11wherein the tube has a longitudinal split in the tube running parallelto the strand of extension hair and the fourth step comprises crimpingthe tube with the slit at a central point in the tube after compressingthe tube and further comprising a fifth step of bending the flattenedtube into a V shape.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising asixth step of compressing the V shape tube into a flattened folded overtube.
 18. The method of claim 16 further comprising a bending toolcomprising a pair of opposing pivotable faces with a V-shaped protrusionon one of the pair of faces and a mating V-shaped recess on the other ofthe pair of faces, wherein the fifth step comprises using the bendingtool to form the compressed tube into the V shape.
 19. The method ofclaim 18 further comprising a compressing tool comprising a pair ofopposing pivotable flat faces and the fourth step comprises using thecompressing tool to compress the tube after the existing strand of hairis drawn into the opening and the sixth step comprises using thecompressing tool to compress the tube again after the tube is formedinto a V shape.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising an openingtool comprising a pair of opposing facing pointed wedge elements capableof being inserted into the opening after the tube is compressed andfurther comprising a seventh step of prying apart the compressed tube toreopen the tube to permit sliding the tube along the strand of existinghair.